Two candidates for the superintendent position at Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) have been named to the list of top five finalists for the superintendent position at Bay City Public Schools. Sander Scott and Dr. Keith Smith confirmed to The Ticker late Friday they have accepted interview invitations to replace Bay City's retiring superintendent Doug Newcombe.

"Where I am in my career, I feel like I have a lot to offer in the role of superintendent and I want to pursue that," says Scott, now the associate superintendent at TCAPS. "Bay City is another district that's a similar size and scope as TCAPS. Obviously a lot of things still need to play out (in the process)."

While Smith - superintendent at Kingsley Area Schools - acknowledges it can "become problematic" when hiring processes overlap, he notes "there have been some larger, quality districts looking for superintendents, and (those positions) don't really come by that often." Neither Smith nor Scott anticipate timing conflicts with their interviews: Bay City's interviews are set to begin March 25-26, by which point TCAPS is likely to have chosen its next superintendent.

"I think it speaks very well of TCAPS' process that there is a similar pool of candidates," says Smith. Agrees Scott: "There's been some criticism that TCAPS didn't cast a wide enough net (for candidates). Yet it validates the process they went through that two of those candidates are being interviewed elsewhere."

The TCAPS board interviewed Smith on Wednesday, while Scott's interview is scheduled for Monday night. Following that interview, the board will narrow the pool of five candidates down to two. Those finalists will proceed to a final round of interviews next Wednesday and Thursday, March 18-19.